System and method for digital tooth imaging

ABSTRACT

Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient&#39;s jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of orthodontics, and moreparticularly to a system and method for computerized tooth alignment.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The orthodontics process intends to realign or reposition a patient'steeth to positions where the teeth function optimally and aesthetically.Typically, appliances such as braces are applied to the teeth of thepatient by a treating orthodontist. Each appliance exerts continualforces on the teeth which gradually urge the teeth toward their idealpositions. Over a period of time, the orthodontist adjusts theappliances to move the teeth toward their final destination.

The process of attaching the braces to teeth is tedious and painful.Additionally, each visit to the orthodontist is time consuming andexpensive. The process is further complicated by uncertainties indetermining a final arrangement for each tooth. Generally, the finaltooth arrangement is determined by the treating orthodontist who writesa prescription. Traditionally, the prescription is based on theorthodontist's knowledge and expertise in selecting the intended finalposition of each tooth and without a precise calculation of forces beingexerted on the teeth when they contact each other.

Continuous efforts are being made to automate the orthodontics processso that a user can be served better with comparable or better resultsthan traditional techniques.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for managing plural impressions of apatient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The methodincludes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression ofa jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jawimpression and the second jaw impression have distortion in differentareas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impressionas a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the baseimpression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression.

In another embodiment, system for managing plural impressions of apatient's jaw for orthodontic treatment is provided. The system includesa processing module for determining if a first jaw impression and asecond jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting thefirst jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression;and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with datafor the distorted tooth from a non-base impression.

In yet another embodiment, a method for reconstructing a tooth occlusalsurface for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includesscanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment;scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching thescanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparingbite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining ifreconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

In yet another embodiment, a system for reconstructing a tooth occlusalsurface for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The system includes aprocessing module for matching a scanned first jaw impression with ascanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a toothocclusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performedon the tooth occlusal surface.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the inventionmay be understood quickly. A more complete understanding can be obtainedby reference to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features and other features of the various embodiment willnow be described with reference to the drawings of a preferredembodiment. In the drawings, the same components have the same referencenumerals. The illustrated embodiment is intended to illustrate, but notto limit the invention. The drawings include the following Figures:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computing system for executing processsteps, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the internal architecture of the computing system of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the anatomy of a patient's jaw;

FIG. 4A illustrates in more detail the patient's lower jaw and providesa general indication of how teeth may be moved by the methods and systemof the embodiments;

FIG. 4B illustrates a single tooth from FIG. 4A and defines how toothmovement distances are determined;

FIG. 5 A shows an example of an appliance used by a patient;

FIG. 5B shows a block diagram of a system for automating toothalignment, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6A shows a process flow diagram for handling multiple impressions,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6B shows an example of a hierarchical tree where every tooth is anobject, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 6C-6F show examples for handling multiple impressions, accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 7A shows an example of a bite scan, used according to oneembodiment; and

FIG. 7B shows a flow chart for using bite scan information, according toone embodiment; and

FIGS. 7C-7J show examples of using bite scan, according to oneembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a system and method for automatically aligning teethis provided. The system can be implemented in software executed by acomputing system or by hardware. To facilitate an understanding of thevarious embodiments, the general architecture and operation of acomputing system will be described first. The specific process under thevarious embodiments is then described with reference to the generalarchitecture.

Computing System Overview:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computing system for executing computerexecutable process steps according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 includes acomputer (also referred to as host computer) 2 and a monitor 4. Monitor4 may be a CRT type, a LCD type, or any other type of color ormonochrome display. Also provided with computer 2 are a keyboard 6 forentering data and user commands, and a pointing device (for example, amouse) 8 for processing objects displayed on monitor 4.

Computer 2 includes a computer-readable memory storage device 10 forstoring readable data. Besides other programs, storage device 10 canstore application programs including computer executable code, accordingto one embodiment. According to one embodiment, computer 2 can alsoaccess computer-readable removable storage devices storing data files,application program files, and computer executable process stepsembodying the present invention or the like via a removable memorydevice 12 (for example, a CD-ROM, CD-R/W, flash memory device, zipdrives, floppy drives and others).

A modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) connection, orthe like also provide computer 2 with a network connection 14, to anetwork of computers/devices. The network connection 14 allows computer2 to download data files, application program files andcomputer-executable process steps embodying the present invention.

It is noteworthy that the adaptive aspects disclosed herein are notlimited to the FIG. 1 architecture. For example, notebook or laptopcomputers, or any other system capable of connecting to a network andrunning computer-executable process steps, as described below, may beused to implement the various embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a top-level block diagram showing the internal functionalarchitecture of computing system 2 that may be used to execute thecomputer-executable process steps, according to one embodiment. As shownin FIG. 2, computing system 2 includes a central processing unit (CPU)16 for executing computer-executable process steps and interfaces with acomputer bus 18.

Also shown in FIG. 2 are an input/output interface 20 that operativelyconnects output display devices such as monitors 4, input devices suchas keyboards 6 and a pointing device such as a mouse 8.

Storage device 10 also interfaces to computing system 2 through thecomputer bus 18. Storage device 10 may be disks, tapes, drums,integrated circuits, or the like, operative to hold data by any means,including magnetically, electrically, optically, and the like. Storagedevice 10 stores operating system program files, application programfiles, computer-executable process steps of the present disclosure andother files. Some of these files are stored on storage device 10 usingan installation program. For example, CPU 16 executescomputer-executable process steps of an installation program so that CPU16 can properly execute the application program.

Random access memory (“RAM”) 24 also interfaces with computer bus 18 toprovide CPU 16 with access to memory storage. When executing storedcomputer-executable process steps from storage device 10, CPU 16 storesand executes the process steps out of RAM 24.

Read only memory (“ROM”) 26 is provided to store invariant instructionsequences such as start-up instruction sequences or basic input/outputoperating system (BIOS) sequences.

Computing system 2 can be connected to other computing systems through anetwork interface 28 using computer bus 18 and a network connection (forexample 14). Network interface 28 may be adapted to one or more of awide variety of networks, including local area networks, storage areanetworks, wide area networks, the Internet, and the like.

In one aspect, alignment software may be supplied on a CD-ROM or afloppy disk or alternatively could be read from the network via networkinterface 28. In yet another aspect, computing system 2 can loadalignment software from other computer readable media such as magnetictape, a ROM, integrated circuit, or a magneto-optical disk.Alternatively, alignment software is installed onto the storage device10 of computing system 2 using an installation program and is executedusing the CPU 16.

In yet another aspect, alignment software may be implemented by using anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit that interfaces with computingsystem 2.

Automated Process Overview:

Methods have been developed to reposition a patient's teeth from aninitial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement according to aplanned course of treatment using a series of appliances. The processstarts when a patient visits an orthodontist/dentist/medicalprofessional/dental laboratory (collectively and interchangeably, asapplicable, referred to as the “medical professional”). The medicalprofessional takes jaw impressions that are then sent to an automationcenter. One such facility is provided by Align Technology Inc., theassignee of the present application.

The automation center digitally scans the jaw impression. The jawimpression is then analyzed by computer modeling software. The modelingsoftware segments all teeth in the jaw impression. Each tooth is storedas an object. Teeth movement is staged over a period of time andappliances are fabricated.

A series of incremental position adjustment appliances are placed overthe patient's teeth to gradually reposition the teeth. Each appliancerepresents a stage in a series of stages for repositioning teeth. Thepatient wears each appliance until the pressure of each appliance on theteeth can no longer be felt. At that point, the patient replaces thecurrent adjustment appliance with the next adjustment appliance in theseries until no more appliances remain.

A problem occurs when a medical professional sends more than oneimpression for the same jaw. When the same jaw impressions are scannedthe distortion between the different jaw impressions can be significant.The adaptive aspects solve this problem, as described below. Prior todescribing the actual process, the following overview is provided.

FIG. 3 shows a skull 30 with an upper jaw bone 32 and a lower jaw bone34. The lower jaw bone 34 hinges at a joint 36, which is called atemporal mandibular joint (TMJ). Upper jaw bone 32 is associated with anupper jaw 38, while lower jaw bone 34 is associated with a lower jaw 40.

A computer model of jaws 38 and 40 is generated, and a computersimulation models interactions among the teeth on jaws 38 and 40. Thecomputer simulation allows the system to focus on motions involvingcontacts between teeth mounted on the jaws and to render realistic jawmovements that are physically correct when jaws 38 and 40 contact eachother. The model of the jaw places the individual teeth in a treatedposition. Further, the model can be used to simulate jaw movementsincluding protrusive motions, lateral motions, and “tooth guided”motions where the path of lower jaw 40 is guided by teeth contactsrather than by anatomical limits of jaws 38 and 40. Motions are appliedto one jaw, but may also be applied to both jaws. Based on the occlusiondetermination, the final position of the teeth can be ascertained.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, lower jaw 40 includes a plurality of teeth 42.At least some of these teeth may be moved from an initial tootharrangement to a desired final tooth arrangement. As a frame ofreference describing how a tooth may be moved, an arbitrary centerline(CL) may be drawn through tooth 42. With reference to this centerline(CL), each tooth may be moved in orthogonal directions represented byaxes 44, 46, and 48 (where 44 is the centerline). The centerline may berotated about axis 48 (root angulation) and axis 44 (torque) asindicated by arrows 50 and 52, respectively. Additionally, tooth 42 maybe rotated about the centerline, as represented by arrow 52. Thus, allpossible free-form motions of the tooth can be performed.

FIG. 4B shows how the magnitude of any tooth movement may be defined interms of a maximum linear translation of any point P on tooth 42. Eachpoint P will undergo a cumulative translation as tooth 42 is moved inany of the orthogonal or rotational directions defined in FIG. 4A. Thatis, while point P will usually follow a nonlinear path, there is alinear distance between any point P in the tooth when determined at anytwo times during the treatment. Thus, an arbitrary point PI may in factundergo a true side-to-side translation as indicated by arrow dl, whilea second arbitration point P2 may travel along an arcuate path,resulting in a final translation d2. Many aspects of the presentdisclosure are defined in terms of the maximum permissible movement ofpoint PI induced on any particular tooth. Such maximum tooth movement,in turn, is defined as the maximum linear translation of point PI on thetooth that undergoes the maximum movement for tooth 42 in any treatmentstep.

FIG. 5A shows one adjustment appliance 54 which is worn by the patientin order to achieve an incremental repositioning of individual teeth inthe jaw as described generally above. Appliance 54 is a polymeric shellhaving a teeth-receiving cavity. This is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,975,893 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,807, both claiming priority fromprovisional application No. 06/050,352, filed Jun. 20, 1997(collectively the “prior applications”), the full disclosures of whichare incorporated by reference in their entirety.

As set forth in the prior applications, each polymeric shell may beconfigured so that its tooth-receiving cavity has a geometrycorresponding to an intermediate or final tooth arrangement intended forappliance 54. The patient's teeth are repositioned from their initialtooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement by placing a series ofincremental position adjustment appliances over the patient's teeth. Theadjustment appliances are generated at the beginning of the treatmentfrom an impression taken from the patient's teeth. The patient wearseach appliance until the pressure of each appliance on the teeth can nolonger be felt. At that point, the patient moves onto the next stage ofthe planned course of treatment and replaces the current adjustmentappliance with the next adjustment appliance in the series until no moreappliances remain. Conveniently, the appliances are generally notaffixed to the teeth and the patient may place and replace theappliances at any time during the procedure.

The polymeric shell 54 can fit over all teeth present in the upper orlower jaw. Often, only certain one(s) of the teeth will be repositionedwhile others of the teeth will provide a base or an anchor region forholding appliance 54 in place as appliance 54 applies a resilientrepositioning force against the tooth or teeth to be repositioned. Incomplex cases, however, multiple teeth may be repositioned at some pointduring the treatment. In such cases, the moved teeth can also serve as abase or anchor region for holding the repositioning appliance.

Polymeric appliance 54 of FIG. 5A may be formed from a thin sheet of asuitable elastomeric polymer, such as Tru-Tain 0.03 in, thermal formingdental material, available from Tru-Tain Plastics, Rochester, Minn.Usually, no wires or other means will be provided for holding theappliance in place over the teeth. In some cases, however, it will bedesirable or necessary to provide individual anchors on teeth withcorresponding receptacles or apertures in appliance 54 so that theappliance can apply an upward force on the tooth that would not bepossible in the absence of such an anchor.

FIG. 5B shows a top-level functional block diagram of a system 56(alignment software module) that is used for automating the orthodonticsprocess. System 56 has an input module 56B that receives scanned patientimpression data. Processing module 56C receives data 56A from inputmodule 56B and a technician/user then segments the individual teethusing digital data 56A. Segmented information is sent to output module56D that generates output 56E. Output 56E can be stored in a storagedevice and/or displayed on a display screen.

It is noteworthy that instead of segmentation, surface matching may beused to accomplish the adaptive aspects described below. Commerciallyavailable software, such as “Geomagic Qualify” available from GeomagicInc. may be used to accomplish this task.

It is noteworthy that although FIG. 5B has various components, thepresent adaptive aspects are not limited to this structure. More orfewer components can be used to implement the functions. Furthermore,different functions can be achieved by software code/hardware orcombination of software/hardware.

Multi-Jaw Impression Alignment Process Flow:

FIG. 6A shows a process flow diagram for managing multiple impressionsthat are received from a medical professional, according to oneembodiment. The process starts in step S600, when the automation center(e.g. Align Technology Inc.) receives more than 1 impression for thesame jaw for the same patient. For the sake of convenience and ease ofillustration, the discussion below will be based on receiving twoimpressions for a jaw. It is noteworthy that the adaptive aspects of thepresent disclosure are not limited to any particular number ofimpressions. There may be a number of reasons why two impressions of thesame jaw may be sent. For example, the medical professional treating thepatient may not have been satisfied with the first impression anddecided to send another impression.

In step S602, both the impressions are scanned. A digital image iscreated for both the impressions. A scanning system (not shown) is usedto scan the three-dimensional jaw impressions. Thereafter, the scannedimaged is segmented or a surface match using commercial software, forexample, Geomagic Qualify is used to duplicate a mesh from one tooth toanother.

In step S604, a user using system 56 first aligns both jaw impressionsand matches them within certain parameters. For example, parametersinclude exclusion of certain teeth that may be misaligned, whilematching undistorted corresponding teeth between two arches, asdiscussed below. The user examines both impressions after the alignmentand determines if the two impressions have distortion in separateareas/teeth. If the answer is no, then one of the impressions isselected and the process continues (step S606).

If in step S604, the user determines that there is distortion in twoseparate teeth, then in step S608, one of the jaw impression is selectedas a base impression. This is illustrated in FIG. 6B where Tooth #3 forimpression number 1 has distortion, while Impression number 2 hasdistortion in Tooth #4. As an example, Impression #1 is selected as abase for detailing the teeth and for proper alignment. If one impressionhas less distortion than the second impression, then the impression withless distortion is used as a base.

In step S610, the user having selected a base impression, swaps toothimage/data for the distorted tooth from the non-base impression wherethe corresponding tooth is undistorted. For example, as shown in FIG.6B, tooth #3 from jaw impression #1 is swapped with tooth #3 from jawimpression 2. Since each tooth is stored as an individual object, thetooth data (or object) is exchanged efficiently. It is noteworthy thatmore than one tooth object can be swapped between the impressions. Also,instead of swapping the tooth, the user can use tooth #3 from impression#2 as a template to fix the distortion in tooth #3 for impression #1.

In step S612, the jaw impression is completed.

FIGS. 6C-6F show screen shots from a computer model for executing theprocess steps of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C shows two impressions 58 and 60 thathave distortion in different areas, 58A and 60A, respectively. FIG. 6Dshows impression 58 as being superimposed on impression 60. Undistortedteeth are kept and distorted teeth are excluded in the alignmentprocess. FIG. 6E shows the superimposed results (62). Both arches forimpressions 58 and 60 are overlaid into the same virtual position. FIG.6F shows the final combined impressions (64) blended into one fortreatment. The distorted regions 58A and 60A are eliminated and replacedby anatomically proper teeth.

One advantage of the foregoing process is that the medical professionaldoes not have to take another impression. A technician can also pick andmatch data from more than one source to create a complete digitalobject. This is helpful to the medical professional and to the patients.

Multiple Impression/Bite Data:

In some instances, a dental laboratory may provide more than oneimpression and also provide a bite scan for the jaws. The bite scan isused to fill in defects that occur in a jaw impression. FIG. 7A shows anexample of a tooth impression 70 with a defect 70A. Bite scan geometry70B is used to fill in the defect 70A. FIG. 7B shows a process flowdiagram, similar to the process flow diagram of FIG. 6A, except in thiscase, bite scan information is used to detail a tooth. The term detailas used herein means filling in defects in a tooth scanned image.

Turning in detail to FIG. 7B, in step S700, an automation centerreceives more than 1 impression with PVS bite scan. PVS bite impressionsare provided by dental laboratories. Typically, a laboratory willprovide the bite scan if there is a defect in a jaw impression. Asdiscussed above, the bite scan is used to detail the teeth.

In step S702, the bite impression and the jaw impressions are digitallyscanned. In step S704, the jaw impressions are digitally matched to thebite impression. In step S706, the process compares bite informationwith a tooth occlusal surface. If reconstruction is needed (step S708),then the tooth is reconstructed in step S712. In this step, processingmodule 56C reconstructs missing data, removes excess data or fixesdistortion. If reconstruction is not needed, then the process moves toalignment in step S710, which is similar to the steps shown in FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 7C-7J show screen shots illustrating the process steps of FIG. 7B.FIG. 7C shows a scanned digital jaw impression 71 with distortion intooth (or region) 72. This is based on the impression that is receivedfrom the medical professional. FIG. 7D shows a scanned model 73 showingbite registration between plural teeth. This is based on information andmodel/bite data provided by a medical professional. The tooth that needsto be detailed is shown as 74. From an image processing perspective, 73is a negative for an image 71.

FIG. 7E shows proper tooth anatomy (76) in PVS bite registration 75. Auser can see this by simply toggling through the image (75). FIG. 7Fshows a distorted PVS impression or model 77 based on a model receivedfrom the medical professional. This shows the distorted tooth 72 (FIG.7C). FIG. 7F shows PVS bite registration 78 for both sides of a mouth.This again is based on bite information received from a medicalprofessional.

FIG. 7G shows bite registration 78 as being overlaid (79) on distortedPVS impression/model 77. FIG. 7H shows the virtual overlay 80 of PVSbite registration 78 and impression 77. In one aspect, tooth crownanatomy is used as a guide for positioning PVS bite registration intoproper coordinates.

FIG. 71 shows a modeled shot 81 with a meshed area 83 and PVS area 82.The meshed area is used to remove the distortion (72, FIG. 7C) andrebuild the tooth structure. FIG. 7J shows a rebuilt model 84. Therebuilt area is shown as 85.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, digital tooth detailing isautomated. This also allows for automatic bite creation for complexcases. Furthermore, missing or distorted information is identified onthe occlusal surface and is also corrected automatically.

It is noteworthy that the foregoing embodiments are not limited to anyparticular number of jaw impressions, i.e. more than two impressions maybe used the same result. Furthermore, more than two impressions with aPVS bite scan may also be used to for defect correction.

While the present disclosure is described above with respect to what iscurrently considered its preferred embodiments, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited to that described above. To thecontrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications andequivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method for reconstructing a tooth occlusalsurface for an orthodontic treatment, comprising: scanning at least afirst jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a biteimpression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jawimpression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite informationwith a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is tobe performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the scanned bite impression is virtually overlaid on the scannedfirst jaw impression.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the biteinformation is used to determine if occlusal reconstruction is to beperformed on the tooth occlusal surface.
 20. The method of claim 17,wherein missing data is reconstructed and distortion is reduced byreshaping the tooth occlusal surface.
 21. A system for reconstructing atooth occlusal surface for an orthodontic treatment, comprising: aprocessor executable processing module configured for matching a scannedfirst jaw impression with a scanned bite impression; comparing biteinformation with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining ifreconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
 22. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein the scanned bite impression is virtuallyoverlaid on the scanned first jaw impression.
 23. The system of claim21, wherein the bite information is used to determine if occlusalreconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
 24. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein missing data is reconstructed and distortionis reduced by reshaping the tooth occlusal surface.